Wednesday, March 11, 2009

The Department of Health and Human Services, under the guidance of the new Obama Administration, is preparing to rescind the "conscience rule" that protects healthcare workers who refuse to participate in abortions or other medical procedures that go against their moral and religious beliefs. If the rule is repealed, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers could lose their jobs or be punished professionally for adhering to their sincerely held religious convictions. This proposal tramples our religious freedoms and shows a blatant disregard for the sanctity of human life.

The conscience rule allows federal health officials to cut off federal funding for any state or local government, hospital, clinic, health plan, doctor's office, or other entity that does not accommodate employees who exercise their right of conscience. It currently applies to more than 584,000 health care facilities. By removing the rule, the Obama Administration is doing the bidding of pro-abortion advocacy groups who seek to penalize healthcare providers who refuse to participate in abortions.

This proposal is subject to 30 days of public comment, and pro-abortion advocates are already weighing in. That's why it is critically important for you contact the Department of Health and Human Services today. You can send comments to proposedrescission@hhs.gov asking that the existing regulations be maintained, but you must send your email within the next 30 days.

Comments should mention any of the following: 1) cases where medical professionals have been pressured into participating in an abortion, 2) refutations of abortion advocates' claims that protecting doctors will hurt access to health care, 3) whether the current protections are a good idea, and 4) whether the conscience rule could be implemented any other way.